ADA: Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom Sinks for Vanities

Universal/accessible design of the home from an occupational therapy and a construction perspective. This blog is part of a quest for cool, convenient, functional design that makes life safer, easier, and as maintenance-free as possible. It's about the lifestyle.

The most important aspect of a handicap accessible sink is just that, the sink needs to be wheelchair accessible. Applying universal design principals can make a bathroom not only accessible but beautiful, elegant and spacious. Here are a few of my favorite accessible sinks. Enjoy.

Porcher Semi-Recessed Sink

Wheelchair Accessible Sink Basics:

Depending on the height of the counter, a shallow basin should allow for 27" clearance from the finished floor to the bottom of the sink, necessary for an individual using a wheelchair. If the counter is 34" high, then the sink can be 6.5" deep; if the counter is 33" high, the sink should be only 5.5" deep.

The drain of the sink should be towards the back of the sink to keep the plumbing clear of the wheelchair.

The sink plumbing should be insulated or have a guard or panel in front of it to prevent burns from the pipes.

The sink can be inset towards the front of a vanity to allow ease of reach for the faucets.

The faucets can be off set to one side or another (or the sink turned sideways to allow off setting of faucet) to make the faucet easy to reach.

Faucets should have long handles that are easy to use.

If someone is on a bowel or catheter program, a faucet with a tall spigot or pull-out spigot will allow for easy clean up of supplies.

2 comments:

thanks much. we are just beginning planning revamp of our partially accessible bathroom (shower and toilet done) vanity, sink, cabinets, etc. it's being difficult to find what i want to see - so far. so i appreciate this work